Ahwatukee Pedestrian Bridge Wins Valley Forward Award
Sept. 23, 2004
The new Kyrene Monte Vista Pedestrian Bridge won the first-place Crescordia
Award for Art in Public Places at the 2004 Valley Forward Environmental Excellence
Awards. The Sept. 17 awards ceremony was the 24th annual event organized by
Valley Forward to recognize outstanding contributions to the environment and
quality of life in the Valley.
The innovative bridge cage was designed by Phoenix sculptor Al Price through
the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program. The bridge, located
in Ahwatukee across Ray Road at Thunderhill Place, was completed in January
and is primarily intended to safely carry neighborhood children on their way
to Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School. The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture,
in partnership with the city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department,
Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School and Ahwatukee Foothills community, brought
Price onto the design team with the Street Transportation Department and consulting
engineers SVR, Inc. to create this one-of-a-kind functional public artwork
and community landmark.
Commenting on the first-place award, Councilman Greg Stanton celebrated the
success of the project. "Named for the school that it serves, the Kyrene Monte
Vista Pedestrian Bridge improves children's safety and brings exceptional
public art to the community," said Stanton.
Price, who is known for his sculptural work with light and shadow, designed
the double helix-shaped cage to convey a sense of motion and to draw pedestrians
through and across the bridge. The bridge uses the sun's rays to cast dynamic
shadows across the bridge deck and the roadway beneath it. Price's design
also was inspired by his work with fourth-grade students at the school during
several model bridge-making workshops.
Valley Forward is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969, that brings together
business, community and civic leaders to convene thoughtful public dialogue
on regional issues and to promote cooperative efforts to improve the environment
and quality of life in the Valley.
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture was established by the Phoenix City
Council in 1985 to advance the growth and development of the arts and cultural
community. The Office of Arts and Culture manages the city's Public Art Program,
Arts Education Program and Arts Grants Program.
Media Contacts:
| Barbara Frazier |
602-534-0115 |
| Andrea Galyean |
602-262-4637 |
